The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-03-04

Mne. Cook. I'm at your service"-wjth
low bow. That Graham girl didn't
seem bit impressed only gigglcd,
and said, coolly. .'You may clean the
fish. ii you want to-" and Tracy Loring.
the heir of one of the richest and most
aristocratic families, donned bgtowel
for an apron and went out to obey her
| commands
| Then how she flew around l rather
liked to watch her. She had such a
delft handy way OF doing things. Both
Cara and wished that our mothers had
taught us something besides fancy
things.
| She made a rousing fire in the fire.
| place-you see, we had taken up our
| quarters in a log-cabin thar, years be-
fore, had been occupied by hermit
| trapper. 1t was rough affair, but just
then we were very thankful for it, con-
| sidering the rain outside 1t had turn
| ed off so chilly, too, that the fire felt
| very comfortable, and what with the
light, warmth, and good supper we
| had a very pleasant time. The supper
was especially nice. Helen had opened
| n couple of cans of chicken; this she
warmed in the saucepan, and poured it
over the toast, gravy and all. Then she
wrapped potatoes in leaves and roasted
them in the hot ashes; and these, with
| the fish, coffee, and other things, made
meal fit for anybody. The gentlemen
praised it up, ut any rate, and they
paid that Graham girl SO many compli-
ments that she actually blushed. 1t
| made her look rather pretty, too. and
the freight falling on her brown hair
gave 1t golden sheen that we women
couldn't help envying.
'.Now, what's to be donc?" said
young Max Collins after supper. "Some
of us have got to tramp back to Giles
farmhouse and get another boat"
"You and will go, Max" said Tracy.
"Will can stay here and guard the
ladies. We'd better start tomorrow
morning if it's Clear
The weather was fine next morning.
and after an early breakfast Chat Gra-
ham girl made splendid corn pones)
Tracy and Max left us. Poor Mrs. Bart
lett actually whimpered when they went
off.
sit seems SO awful to be left alone
shipwrecked in this bowling wilder
ness" she said.
exclaimed viii; "and not at all compli-
my dear madam, that l will defend you
as long as have drop of blood left
ii these warliko mosquitoes leave mo
any to begin with"
Will is real nice fellow Qovely to
lead the German withD, but he isn't cut
out for woodsman. and about the first
thing he did after Tracy and Max had
gone was to tumble down rocky place
he was getting some rare ferns for
Sadie Avery-and break his leg! Well,
l don't know what we aUould have
done had it not been for that Graham
girl! We were all about ready to go
into mysteries, but she spoke out sharp
and commanding, and told us that we
must help her. We somehow got Will
into the house-it must have looked
ridiculous to sec us all pulling and tug
ging at him-and on cot, and then
Helen went to Mrs. Bartlett's medicine
chest which she had brought along on
account of the children, and got him
something that would keep him quiet
and prevent fever. Then there was
nothing else to do but wait until Tracy
returned; and, o, it seemed ages.
In the meantime something still more
startling took place. We were all rest
ing bit after our exertions when sud-
denly In rushed Tom and Tiny, saying
in scared whispers, for Will was doing,
and we motioned them to be quiet:
10, that Francisco has come back!
He is coming up from the beach, and
he acts awful queer! He swore at us,
he did,"
"What! the guidcP" said Mrs. Bart
lett "Girls, he must be drunk or crazy!
What shall we dop o, what shall we
doP Poor Will can't protect us!''
"And he mustn't be disturbed, either"
said Helen Graham, decidedly. "We'll
have to settle with Francisco ourselves
He does look crazy or drunk" going to
the door and looking out at the rolling
staggering figure coming up the pebbly
path.
1t was quite evident that he was drunk
unfortunately not enough to make
him clumsy and helpless, but enough to
be ugly and reckless. His boldness
showed that he knew we were without
q defender.
Helen Graham stepped outside the
door, one hand hanging down in the
folds of her gown. Her face was white,
but otherwise she seemed calm.
What do you want, Francisco" she
called out, in steady tones.
He swore like q pirate as he answer
DID,
How, look here, girl, you needn't put
on any airs! There amt no one but that
crippled dandy in there!. I've come to
have my just dues. The boss, Loring,
wouldn't allow me any whisky and so
went off and helped myself. Nov, I've
come back to settle up! You women
have got to fork over what money and
valuables you've got!' and with that
the ugly brute drew step nearer.
never knew Helen Graham's eyes
could flash SO. Stand backr' she cried.
She raised her right hand from the folds
of her gown, and caught o stcely
CLEAN. 1t was Wills revolver!
Francisco didn't relish that little shin
ing weapon being pointed at him, and
he cringed down like a whipped cur.
Now" continued Helen, '.you 90